For the first time in 2007, Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership ran a week of multi-skills carnivals for pupils in Key Stage One across the entire partnership. In total, 32 schools were invited to take part in their local event and to each adopt a country for the day.

The programme for the week was as follows:

• Monday Southfields Park, Tunbridge Wells
• Wednesday Cranbrook Rugby Club, Cranbrook
• Thursday Cranbrook Rugby Club, Cranbrook
• Friday Southfields Park, Tunbridge Wells

Multi-skills activities are designed to develop the fundamental movement skills and fundamental sports skills of young people so that they can progress into the sport of their choice. The activities that were used at the carnivals focused on agility, balance or coordination, or a combination of these concepts.

Young sports leaders from primary schools together with senior sports leaders from secondary schools ran each activity for groups of ten children. Groups then rotated through a series of stations to practice a range of skills and work with many different leaders.

Unfortunately the Monday and Friday carnivals had to be postponed due to the unusually wet weather for this time of year. However, the Cranbrook events both went ahead and were a tremendous success. The Tunbridge Wells Schools were all invited to attend the rescheduled carnival on Monday July 16.

Wednesday June 27th

On Wednesday, 170 Key Stage One pupils, 54 Young leaders and 21 Senior Sports Leaders attended.

School Nation     Cranbrook Lamberhurst 1     Colliers Green Lamberhurst 3     Frittenden Benenden 1     Marden Goudhurst 4     Sissinghurst Lamberhurst 2     Lamberhurst Benenden 2     Woodchurch Russia

There was a prize pf £75 to be spent on sports equipment, awarded to the school that best represented their nation each day. Colliers Green, representing China won on Wednesday.

Thursday June 28th

On Thursday, 100 Key Stage One pupils, 71 Young leaders and 13 senior sports leaders attended

School Nation     Tenterden Brazil     High Halden South Africa     Wittersham USA     Benenden Great Britain     Hawkhurst Australia     John Mayne Russia

Wittersham, representing USA won the best represented nation on Thursday.

Monday July 16

On Monday, 130 Key Stage One Pupils and 14 senior sports leaders attended.

School Nation     St James’ Infants Brazil     St Matthew’s South Africa     St Mark’s USA     Broadwater Great Britain     St Augustine’s Australia

Broadwater, representing USA won the best represented nation on Monday.

A huge thank you to:

• All of the schools for taking part
• The young sports leaders from primary schools
• The senior sports leaders from Angley and Homewood School and Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School

Without these leaders, the carnival would not have taken place:

• The TWSSP staff for their involvement in not only the week itself but in the vital preparation that was required in the build up to carnival week
  
• Cranbrook Rugby Club and Mandy Stevenson for allowing us the use of their facilities on both days
  
• Skinners School for allowing us the use of their facilities

The Multi-Skills Carnival week will now become an annual fixture on the Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership calendar. With London 2012 fast approaching we aim for this Olympic themed event to grow in size each year.